You have to have power to run the tools. If you have the knowledge & ability I suggest adding a few electrical outlets to your shop. Doing so at the beginning will help you as your shop grows. If you don’t have a THOROUGH working knowledge of electricity then bypass this step or get some help. I had the blessing of hanging around a contractor friend for several years and learned a lot. The biggest thing to remember with electricity is that it can kill you, so don’t play around…. That said, my electrical box is located in my shop so running a few extra lines (I had space on my box) was quite easy. I only run 12/2 wire...
Ok, we've talked about some basics for planning a shop so it’s time to have some fun. To a woodworker there is nothing more satisfying than building or creating things. A workbench is the perfect place to start as it’s simple and essential! The workbench is a must to our shop but it also needs to be personalized. I’m 6’2” so I want a bench that fits my height so I made mine 40” high. This left me plenty of space underneath to put a full size, stable shelf and further room under the shelf for more storage. My benchtop is 3’ X 5’ as I wanted a large enough work area that fit the space I had available. The...
Okay, I had a brain melt in forgetting one of the absolute “MUST HAVE’S” of any shop: THE FIRST AID KIT. It doesn’t have to be fancy since we’re (hopefully) not performing surgery so no need for tourniquets or heart paddles however having a few simple items will save you time and often some discomfort. Band aids are essentials, along with some type of antiseptic cleaner, antibiotic ointment, gauze type bandage and tape; even some sterile cloths for cleaning a wound would be beneficial. As with everything else in the shop, you can personalize to fit your needs. It's just so much easier to have these at hand when you "nick" yourself:) Regardless of how careful I am when...
I will assume that anyone desiring to build a shop has at least some functional tools along with some working knowledge of basic carpentry (if not there are plenty of Internet sites & videos you can check out). Now onto my basic list of essentials. Workbench and shelves are a must. You have to have an area to work so one or more solid work benches that include shelves below. Storage areas are your best friend. Electricity: You have to have power to run the tools. If you have the knowledge & ability I suggest adding a few electrical outlets to your shop. Doing so at the beginning will help you as your shop grows. Lighting: The more you hone...
Well this certainly sounds like a topic worth reading huh? In reality, it's about one of the most life transforming lessons I've learned.. This blog is not about me (despite the title), it’s about how I've learned to speak and the effectiveness of the statements I make to others.( i.e. "I" and "me" statements.) Using I and me statements is essential to communication, yet they seem to be a lost art. These statements take complete ownership of what I represent while taking the enormous sting out of any accusations when I tend to “should” all over people (i.e., “you should….” or “Shouldn’t you…?”). Here’s what I’ve learned: I and me personalize: (good thing this isn’t a blog on sentence structure...
